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25 Coolest Midwest Lake Vacation Spots
Cooler by the lake
Your perfect lake might be a pool only you and the loons know about. Or a serpentine reservoir ruffled by the wake of speedboats. Or one of the mighty Great Lakes, with beaches as fine as any ocean's. The following 25 vacation spots are each cool for a different reason, but they've got one thing in common: a liquid heart.
Pictured: Marblehead Lighthouse on Ohio's Lake Erie shore.
Cool community: Door County, Wisconsin
On a jagged peninsula that's just 70 miles long and 10 miles wide, you'll find the "Cape Cod of the Midwest." Why the nickname? Well, to start, there are lighthouses (10, including Cana Island light at left), beaches (about 30) and forested state parks (5) along more than 300 miles of shoreline.
There are pretty little towns, too, clustered around glittering Lake Michigan bays. The county's 30,000 or so year-round residents work hard to pique visitors' interest. Even as residents welcome new art galleries and upscale clothing and home-decor boutiques, they haven't forgotten their past.
Folks still gather for evening fish boils; hand-laid stone walls still divide pastures; and cherry orchards that date to the 1800s are still carefully tended and brought to bloom. Just the simple act of eating a fresh slice of cherry pie or taking a bike ride along the shore in Peninsula State Park makes you part of the community.
Resources: Midwest Living's Door County Trip Guide and Door County Driving Tour; Door County Visitor Bureau
More cool community: Traverse City, Michigan
During the summertime National Cherry Festival, Traverse City's population swells from 14,000 to more than 500,000. What's amazing, though, is that this gentrified vacation spot (140 miles north of Grand Rapids) feels even more like a small town during the fest. Lake Michigan glitters behind a packed lineup of parades, country-fair-style contests and teddy-bear teas. People here love their town—and they love to share it, even with huge crowds. The National Cherry Festival (pictured) draws up to 500,000 visitors.
Resources: Midwest Living's Traverse Area Trip Guide; Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau
Cool community in South Haven, Michigan
Park your car in South Haven, and then say good-bye to it. This cute Lake Michigan town (60 miles southwest of Grand Rapids) is completely walkable, so it's easy to stroll between sandy beaches, fun restaurants, cool galleries and pretty bed and breakfasts.
Resources: Midwest Living's South Haven Trip Guide; South Haven Visitors Bureau
Cool for kids: Minocqua, Wisconsin
This northern Wisconsin resort town (165 miles northwest of Green Bay) has all the ingredients of a great family vacation - including more than 3,000 lakes in Vilas and Oneida counties. Minocqua's quieter lakes are perfect for swimming lessons and sand castles. Meanwhile, you can zip across big Lake Minocqua on a wakeboard or check out the Min-Aqua Bats ski team.
Kids love cheering at Scheer's Lumberjack Show or digging into an ice cream cone at Hoggie Doggie's. And the lodgings here understand what a family lake vacation is all about—no one minds a little sand tracked in.
Resources: Midwest Living's Minocqua Trip Guide; Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce
More cool for kids: Wisconsin Dells
The nickname "Water Park Capital of the World" is a pretty good clue to the kid-appeal of this hilly vacation area near Lake Delton (50 miles northwest of Madison). Water-park resorts (such as Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park, left), plus old-fashioned amusement parks, top most itineraries.
But The Dells also has three state parks and plenty of spots for grown-up relaxation. Try to find time to see the Dells, the unique, craggy bluffs rising over the Wisconsin River like stacks of sandstone pancakes. Some of the best views are from double-decker excursion boats. For a Dells-style adventure, bounce your way through the woods and splash into the river on the Wisconsin Ducks -- amphibious transport vehicles from World War II.
Resources: Midwest Living's Wisconsin Dells Trip Guide; Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau
- Photo courtesy of Cedar Point.
Kid cool in Lake Erie Shores and Islands, Ohio
No doubt, the family-friendly heart of Ohio's Lake Erie shore is Sandusky (60 miles east of Toledo). It's home to gigantic Cedar Point amusement park (pictured), as well as four indoor water-park resorts.
Kids will also love riding ferries to area islands like South Bass and Kelleys Island, looking for birds at state parks, visiting the Merry-Go-Round Museum, climbing the stairs in Marblehead Lighthouse—and, of course, swimming in the lake.
Resources: Midwest Living's Lake Erie Shore Trip Guide; Lake Erie Shores and Islands Welcome Centers
Cool art: Saugatuck, Michigan
One clue that this little Lake Michigan town (40 miles southwest of Grand Rapids) has an artsy soul: You'll see cool sculptures everywhere. Artists have congregated in Saugatuck (population: 1,000) for a century now, so it's no surprise that art has become part of the fabric of the community.
Some 40 galleries showcase local art and pieces from around the world. Many of the galleries are also studios, so it's easy to catch an artist at work. If you feel the creative impulse while you're in town, check out the classes at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts and the visitors' events at the Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency.
Summer brings acclaimed film, jazz and chamber music festivals. Visitors come to enjoy those, plus all the things that lured artists here in the first place: boats bobbing in the marinas, white sand and gentle waves on Oval Beach (pictured), lush foliage in the trees and the ever-changing blue of Lake Michigan.
Resources: Midwest Living's Southwest Michigan Shore Trip Guide; Saugatuck-Douglas Visitors Bureau
More cool art: Grand Marais, Minnesota
Tucked into a natural Lake Superior harbor (110 miles northeast of Duluth), this town of 1,400 has a surprising arts scene. You can poke around galleries downtown—such as the Siverson Art Gallery, pictured—or head to the North House Folk School for classes (topics include boat-building and basket-weaving), films and even concerts.
The creative spirit extends to area restaurants, where chefs work culinary magic with fresh-caught lake fish. Grand Marais also is a gateway to the Gunflint Trail, which reaches deep into Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Resources: Midwest Living's North Shore Trip Guide; Visit Cook County
Cool art in Petoskey, Michigan
Petoskey sits 70 miles northeast of Traverse City, near the top of Michigan's "mitten." Around town, you'll find murals, galleries and the Crooked Tree Arts Center, a hub for exhibitions and art classes of every stripe. It even has a 235-seat theater. Be sure to take a drive along US-31 for shimmering blue Lake Michigan scenery.
Resources: Midwest Living's Summer Getaway to the Petoskey Area; Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau
Cool mix: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Missouri's largest lake has 1,150 miles of shoreline—and just about as many ways to get out and enjoy it. The lake was formed in 1931, with the completion of Bagnell Dam. Developed over the years since then, "the Strip" evolved into a colorful kitsch-central, with fudge shops, old-time photo studios and souvenir shops.
But the lake is still the biggest draw, and fishing here is fabulous. Nearly 50 full-service marinas can hook you up with boat rentals. On shore, you can play 261 holes of golf or tour the ruins of a mansion at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, ride horseback at Lake of the Ozarks State Park or take a lantern tour of Ozark Caverns. And with more than 100 restaurants (including great sandwiches at On the Rise Bakery and fine dining at the Blue Heron), you'll have plenty of options to try during your trip.
Resources: Midwest Living's Lake of the Ozarks Trip Guide; Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau
More cool mix: Branson, Missouri
Chill on Table Rock Lake, take a cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle, then settle in for one of this southwest Missouri town's glittering live music shows. Silver Dollar City theme park (pictured) includes craft demonstrations and restaurants. Branson's historic downtown is loaded with little souvenir shops and cafes, while Branson Landing is a posh outdoor shopping mall.
Resources: Midwest Living's Branson Trip Guide; Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Cool mix at Brainerd, Minnesota
Just 125 miles north of the Twin Cities, Brainerd is firmly in the lakelands—lots of pine trees and plenty of kitschy Paul Bunyan fun. The shores here are sprinkled with resorts (from old-school to woodsy chic), shops, restaurants, state parks and trails. Tee off on one of the Brainerd Golf Trail's 11 courses (180 total holes), including Madden's on Gull Lake (pictured), or relax at Glacial Waters Spa.
Resources: Midwest Living's Brainerd Lakes Trip Guide; Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Cool solitude: Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
How do you get around a 218,000-acre national park that doesn't have any roads? The answer is the main reason people visit this park on the Canadian border: boats.
To explore Voyageurs' 30-some lakes (Rainy and Namekan are the biggest) and find the solitude this park is famous for, you need something that floats. Some folks spend a day on a guided walleye fishing trip and stay at a resort in one of the shore towns of International Falls or Ranier (160 miles north of Duluth). Others motor around on houseboats, watching for moose by day and anchoring at a different island each night for sunset and a campfire.
Resources: Midwest Living's North Woods Trip Guide; Rainy Lake, International Falls and Ranier Convention and Visitors Bureau; Kabetogama Lake Association and Tourism Bureau; Voyageurs National Park
Cool retro chic: East Tawas and Tawas City, Michigan
Spending a weekend in this pair of Lake Huron beach towns feels a little like dropping into the 1950s. Several generations of Detroiters, many of them autoworkers, have come to the cottage resorts along these sugar-sand shores for affordable, close-to-home family vacations—and they still do.
In Tawas Point State Park, kids build sand castles and splash in jade-color shallows. Sandy Hook Nature Trail winds past meadows of wildflowers and marshes teeming with birds. The Tawas Point Lighthouse stands over a 200-site campground.
A bike path connects the park to nearby East Tawas and Tawas City (180 miles north of Detroit). The lineup in East Tawas is simple but fun: souvenir and gift shops, a 60-year-old ice cream parlor and the 1910 Family Theater, which still shows flicks. Put away your cell phone, squint a little, and the decades just melt away.
Resources: Tawas Bay Tourist and Convention Bureau
More cool retro chic: Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Tucked among north-central Minnesota's trees and lakes, you'll find generations-old resorts (such as Fair Hills Resort, pictured) built around screen-door cabins and a refusal to gentrify. Downtown Detroit Lakes features a mile-long beach near streets of everyday shops, not just gift stores. Throw in simple pleasures like water-skiing lessons, a huge flea market and a county fair, and you don't get much more Parent Trap (Hayley Mills version) than this—and that's why people love it.
Resources: Midwest Living's Detroit Lakes Trip Guide; Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Photo by Richard Swearinger.
Cool retro chic at Okoboji, Iowa
Some people might be surprised by this classic vacation spot 210 miles northwest of Des Moines. A string of glacial lakes covers about 15,000 acres, forming the "Iowa Great Lakes." Families return year after year, fishing off docks and hopping on carnival rides at Arnolds Park, a turn-of-the-last-century theme park that's as retro as they come. Okoboji Boat Works, a popular stop between the west and east lakes, offers a swimming beach, a playground and glass-bottom boat tours.
Resources: Midwest Living's Iowa Great Lakes Trip Guide; Okoboji Tourism
Cool island attitude: Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Rearing out of Lake Superior, and surrounded by hundreds of smaller islets, Isle Royale National Park is a 45-mile-long bastion of protected wilderness.
It's not an easy place to get to. Isle Royale is buffered from the mainland by miles of chilly Lake Superior, and that has helped this rocky island maintain its near-pristine state. Though there were once summer homes, resorts and even mining operations, only a single lodge remains for visitors. There are no roads.
And for most of the people who come here, that's the attraction. Isle Royale is an outdoor-lover's paradise. You can hike on 165 miles of trails, kayak around the rocky shoreline or take water taxis to remote campsites. For travelers who want a little education with their adventure, rangers lead walks and boat excursions.
Resources: Midwest Living's National Park Getaways; Isle Royale National Park
More cool island attitude: Mackinac Island, Michigan
Cars aren't allowed on this idyllic island located between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas (120 miles northeast of Traverse City). Instead, horse-drawn carriages meet visitors at the ferry docks, and bike rentals are plentiful— perfect for burning off the island's famous fudge.
Many people stay in town, but they're missing out on one of the island's real treasures—peaceful lake-view hikes in gorgeous Mackinac Island State Park (pictured).
Resources: Midwest Living's Mackinac Island Trip Guide; Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau
Cool island attitude at Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
These ruggedly beautiful islands sit off the shore of Bayfield, Wisconsin, in Lake Superior (80 miles east of Duluth). Only one, Madeline Island, has any commercial development. But that doesn't stop most travelers, who happily explore the other islands by kayak or sailboat.
Resources: Midwest Living's Bayfield and Apostle Islands Trip Guide; Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce
Cool in the city: Milwaukee
You won't feel as if you've escaped from civilization at Milwaukee's 15-acre Bradford Beach, but that's the point: You get all the fun and relaxation of a Lake Michigan beach, plus the vibrant energy of a cosmopolitan city.
When you're ready to pack up the towel and sunscreen, a pulsing city awaits, with museums, shopping, great restaurants, pro sports teams and plush hotels. The Historic Third Ward district offers galleries and boutiques, while the Harley-Davidson Museum honors the city's motorcycle heritage. And throughout the summer, this city of 605,000 hosts one outdoor party after another along the lakefront, luring visitors for food, music and drinks. Ethnic festivals offer a globe-trotting tour of Milwaukee's immigrant communities, while Summerfest is the world's largest music festival.
Resources: Midwest Living's Milwaukee Trip Guide; Visit Milwaukee
More cool in the city: Chicago, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, and Racine, Wisconsin
Chicago Many of the city's biggest attractions (including Lincoln Park Zoo, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Navy Pier) are within sight of Lake Michigan. Chill out on a sandy beach, or ride bikes (left) along the Lakefront Trail. Resources: Midwest Living's Chicago Trip Guide; Choose Chicago
Minneapolis/Saint Paul Locals love to bike, jog and skate through the parks and gardens linked by Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes. In Saint Paul, Lake Como has a conservatory and zoo. Resources: Midwest Living's Minneapolis Trip Guide; Midwest Living's Saint Paul Trip Guide; Meet Minneapolis; Visit Saint Paul
Racine, Wisconsin Along Lake Michigan, Racine's North Beach (20 miles south of Milwaukee) is one of the nicest urban public beaches you'll see -- clean, white sand, with easy access to downtown's shops and restaurants. Resources: Real Racine

subset: commoncrawl


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Today's News: Our Take - VIDEO: Kim Zolciak Says Goodbye to Real Housewives With One Last Fight
TV Guide
Before Kim Zolciak says goodbye to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, there will be one last blowout argument between the "Tardy for the Party" singer and her nemesis NeNe Leakes.
This time, the Atlanta housewives are upset over Zolciak's priorities - namely that she's using her pregnancy as an excuse not to go on a group trip. Zolciak finally just storms out, leaving the housewives behind and screaming at the cameras in the process. Check out a sneak peek at Zolciak's swan song below:
Fortunately, Zolciak won't be off TV for long. Bravo just greenlighted the second season of Don't Be Tardy.
View original VIDEO: Kim Zolciak Says Goodbye to Real Housewives With One Last Fight at TVGuide.com
Other Links From TVGuide.com


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Dr. Jeff Hersh: What causes monoarticular arthritis?
Q: My left knee started to swell up and hurt, and my doctor said it was some kind of arthritis and he gave me an antibiotic. What can cause this?
A: Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints. Monoarticular arthritis (MAA) involves only one joint; polyarthritis more than one joint. Although many things can cause either MAA or polyarthritis, certain underlying conditions may be more likely in one or the other. Today I will focus on MAA.
There are many possible causes of acute MAA. These are often classified into four major categories:
Trauma - Trauma can cause swelling and inflammation directly from injury to one of the structures that make up the joint (bone, bursa, ligament, meniscus, etc.) or indirectly from bleeding into the joint (hemarthrosis). Hemarthrosis may occur with minor trauma or even spontaneously in people with a bleeding disorder (for example low platelets for whatever reason, or from clotting factor insufficiency such as in hemophiliacs or in people on anticoagulation medications).
Infection (septic arthritis) - Many types of infection can cause MAA. Gonococcal arthritis occurs when sexually transmitted Neisseria gonorrhea subsequently spreads through the blood stream to "seed" a joint. In some patients, the symptoms in one joint may resolve only to flare up in a different joint, referred to as migratory arthritis. Gonococcal arthritis is the most common cause of infectious MAA in otherwise healthy young adults.
Non-gonococcal bacterial infections that may cause MAA include staph, strep and gram negative bacteria, mycobacteria (for example tuberculosis), Lyme disease and others. In addition, certain types of fungal and viral infections may also cause MAA.
Crystalline diseases - Gout, due to a buildup of uric acid crystals in a joint, is the most common of the crystalline MAA's. Although it most often affects the joint at the base of the great toe, it can occur in essentially any joint.
Pseudogout was named because its symptoms can be very similar to gout, however it is caused by the accumulation of calcium pyrophosphate crystals; it is the second most common cause of crystalline MAA, others are far less common.
Systemic disorders - Systemic diseases that cause other symptoms may come to medical attention, or be complicated by, acute flare-ups of MAA. For example, sarcoid, rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis may manifest as MAA. Other systemic disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease may cause MAA. Certain benign and even malignant cancers can cause MAA; this can be due to the cancer occurring in structures in or around the joint, or due to leukemia or other cancers infiltrating a joint.
This is only a partial list; there are many other possible causes of MAA. The first step in narrowing down the most likely etiology is a history and physical exam. The history may identify risk factors such as a bleeding disorder, a history of trauma, a history suggestive of a sexually transmitted disease, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc., and the physical exam may help identify if the symptoms involve a structure around the knee (such as point bone pain), if range of motion is limited or if there is fever. Interestingly, although fever often suggests infection, many non-infectious causes, such as gout, pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, etc., may also cause fever.
X-rays may be helpful, especially if there is a history of trauma or effusion in the joint, however, the most important diagnostic test is needle aspiration of joint fluid. If the fluid is bloody, trauma or hemarthrosis must be considered. Elevated white blood cells (WBCs) suggest inflammation and very high WBCs suggest infection; a culture of the fluid can identify an infectious agent. Crystalline disease is diagnosed by crystal visualization. Other tests such as antibody tests for Lyme disease or testing for a systemic disease may be indicated.
Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis. For many causes, pain medication and conservative treatment (including rest of the joint) may be all that is needed. Infectious causes may require antibiotics, and in some cases, surgical debridement. Systemic causes may require treatment for the underlying etiology. Crystalline causes may require medications to prevent a recurrence; for example medications to lower blood uric acid levels for gout may be started after an acute flare-up.
MAA is common; evaluation is needed to determine the underlying cause. This will not only inform the acute situation, but is also important to help prevent future problems.
A correction to last week's column: many patients with NMO do have brain lesions, and although the present diagnostic requirement includes "two of three criteria" with one of those being an MRI showing no brain lesions, this may change in the future. Thanks to those who wrote in!
Jeff Hersh, Ph.D., M.D., can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The National Rifle Association has spent much of the past year under siege, ardently defending gun rights following mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut and fighting back against mounting pressure for stricter laws in Washington and state capitols across the country.
Now, after winning a major victory over President Barack Obama with the defeat of a gun control bill in the U.S. Senate, the powerful gun-rights lobby will gather in Houston this weekend for its annual convention.
Organizers anticipate a rollicking, Texas-sized party — one that celebrates the group's recent victory while stressing the fight against gun control is far from over.
"If you are an NRA member, you deserve to be proud," Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's brash, no-compromises chief executive wrote to the organization's 5 million members last week, telling them they "exemplify everything that's good and right about America."
The NRA couldn't have picked a friendlier place to refresh the troops. More than 70,000 people are expected to attend the three-day "Stand and Fight"-themed event, which includes a gun trade show, political rally and strategy meeting.
Texas, with its frontier image and fierce sense of independence, is one of the strongest gun-rights states in the country. More than 500,000 people are licensed to carry concealed handguns, including Gov. Rick Perry, who once bragged about shooting a coyote on a morning jog.
Concealed handguns are allowed the state Capitol, where simply showing a license allows armed visitors to bypass metal detectors.
Friday's big event is a political forum with speeches from several state and national conservative leaders, including Perry, former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, former Pennsylvania senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum and Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican Texas firebrand who has become one of the top tea party voices in Washington since being elected last year. LaPierre speaks to the convention on Saturday before the "Stand and Fight" rally at night.
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam predicted the convention will draw the largest crowd in its history.
"The geography is helpful," Arulanandam said. "The current (political) climate helps."
For NRA member Mike Cox, a concealed handgun license instructor from rural Wimberley, the recent Senate vote showed not only the power of the NRA, but demonstrated to its members the need to dig in and recruit more members.
"There's a lot of enthusiasm right now," Cox said. "This isn't over by any means."
Gun control advocates say they will have a presence around the NRA convention, with plans for a vigil for victims of gun violence, a petition drive to support background checks and a Saturday demonstration outside the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Sandy Phillips, whose daughter Jessica Ghawi, was killed in the Colorado theater shooting in July 2012, met privately with Cruz in San Antonio this week. Phillips said Cruz refused to budge on expanding background checks and told her he considered it the first step toward government confiscation of guns.
"They're always good at saying the right thing, 'I'm so sorry for you loss and da da da da da,"' Phillips said. "If you're really sorry for my loss, do something about it."
In an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, Cruz called efforts by Obama and gun control advocates to push for expanded background checks an attempt to "undermine the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms."
Despite polls that show most Americans favor some expansion of background checks, Ladd Everitt, spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, said a big challenge facing gun control advocates is matching the NRA's grassroots organizing, or as he called it "closing the passion gap."
"The NRA knows this issue is very much in play. People were sickened by that Senate vote," Everitt said.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, has said he will re-introduce the bill to require criminal and mental health background checks for gun buyers at shows and online. And despite their loss on the federal level, gun control advocates have scored some significant victories at the state level.
Lawmakers in Colorado passed new restrictions on firearms, including required background checks for private and online gun sales and a ban on ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. Connecticut recently added more than 100 firearms to the state's assault weapons ban and now requires background checks for private gun sales.
Maryland and New York have passed sweeping new guns laws, and in Washington state, supporters of universal background checks recently announced a statewide campaign to collect 300,000 signatures to put the issue straight to voters.
"There have been significant victories (at the state level). We expect that to continue and we're not giving up on the federal level," Everitt said.
John Ridlehuber, a gun dealer from Lott, Texas, a rural hamlet of about 700 people, said NRA members see no room for compromise on new gun restrictions. Gun rights advocates have given up far too much ground over the years, he said.
"We have capitulated in far too many places. We should never give anything up again," Ridlehuber said. "We're not the bad guys. We're the good guys."
Associated Press writer Alan Fram in Washington contributed to this report.


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Morning Jolt: 'Wild Thing' singer remembered
In the news
Reg Presley of The Troggs has died, CNN reported. The singer behind "Wild Thing," "With a Girl Like You," "I Can't Control Myself" and "Love Is All Around" passed away at age 71 and is being remembered for his contributions to rock 'n' roll. Rolling Stone magazine rated "Wild Thing" as No. 261 on the list of 500 greatest songs ever.
Opening bell
The Dow Jones opened at 13,979.30 after finishing up 99.22 points Tuesday.
Motivational quote
"We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark." - Whoopi Goldberg
Watercooler talk: Woman lets boyfriend tattoo his name on her face
It's a tale as old as time: Tattoo artist meets pretty girl online. Twenty-four hours later, she lets her new boyfriend tattoo his name across her face.
GateHouse News Service


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- Customized items are final sale and cannot be cancelled, changed, returned or refunded after order has been placed.
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- Handle time: 2-4 days.
- Delivery time: 12-15 business days
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Starting Wednesday, eligible voters in California—the nation's largest state by population—can register to vote online.
Previously, Californians had to take a printed form, sign it, and mail it to an elections office before being counted as registered to vote. In July, Washington became the first state in the nation to allow residents to register to vote via a Facebook app. Around a dozen states, including Connecticut and Indiana, also allow online registration.
Under the new system, which saw 3,000 Californians use it in its first 12 hours of existence, an online system matches a state identity card or driver's license with date of birth and the last four digits of a Social Security number. Once a voter's identity has been confirmed, she or he can click a button to authorize the digital signature that the state's Department of Motor Vehicles already has.
The deadline for voter registration for the November 6, 2012 presidential election is October 22.
"Today, the Internet replaces the mailbox for thousands of Californians wishing to register to vote,'' California Secretary of State Debra Bowen said in a statement (PDF). "Today we are taking the next step in the never-ending evolution of democracy and reaching every Californian.''
According to the California Voter Foundation, more than 25 percent of the Golden State's eligible voters are not registered.
"We have one of the lowest rates of registration in the country,'' Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation told the Los Angeles Times. "We're hoping that this new system will encourage more young people to get registered. This is going to make the process more accessible to more people.''


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Roku is no stranger to set-top boxes—we'd even go so far as to say that the company has managed to set the standard for what these little streaming devices should offer. It's the content partnerships that have made the devices so successful—consumers have a great deal of choice when it comes to streaming, something that the Apple TV and even the WDTV Play are still catching up on.
To be fair, Roku, Apple, and Western Digital all offer slightly different things. Roku is especially made for those who want to stream a variety of content from third-parties, while the other two act more as a mediator for users to play content they already own while still having access to some of the more widely used third parties. Regardless, the Roku has been successful in its model, and the Roku 3 continues in the company's tradition of delivering an affordable, feature-filled streaming device.
New look, same great offerings
The Roku 3, available now for $99.99, calls itself the "most powerful, responsive streaming box" that Roku has ever built. It features an ARM-based processor and other components all wrapped inside a shiny, hockey-puck shaped chassis. At 3.5 × 3.5 × 1 inches, it's a bit smaller than the second- and third-generation Apple TV and Western Digital's Play set-top box. It also feels a bit like a paperweight, but that helps keep the puck from sliding around in your entertainment center.
On the back, the Roku 3 features an Ethernet port, HDMI port, microSD slot, and power plug. It's 802.11 a/b/g/n compatible, with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support. On the side, there's a handy slot for a flash drive or portable hard drive. The Roku 3 no longer features any RCA outputs as past iterations have, so users with older televisions will want to check out the older versions of the Roku.
The Roku's interface underwent a major overhaul, and it no longer features the static, flip-through icon carousel of older iterations. Users can see more channels at a glance and change the background theme of the interface, and there is a nice transition effect while perusing through menus. Overall, the new interface is more user friendly than older versions of the Roku, as menus are easier to navigate through. Still, some of the "channels" haven't evolved along with Roku and are still sporting dated interfaces.
The Roku 3 also allows users to search for content across different services. Say you're aching to watch the BBC's Sherlock: simply type the name into the search option on the Home page and Roku will retrieve the different services that are streaming it—a helpful option for users who might have subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu Plus, and even Amazon Instant Video but aren't sure which service has the most episodes to offer. It's only a shame that there's no voice control like on the Xbox via the Kinect, because the keyboard input via the remote is a bit slow.
The new interface is currently exclusive to the Roku 3, but the company has said that it will push out the update to its latest generation of Roku boxes at the end of April.
The remote
The Roku remote is a notable hardware update itself. It hooks up to the Roku 3 via Wi-Fi Direct, so you don't have to point it at the box to change the channel. It also features a headphone jack and volume buttons, so you can listen to a movie or music without disrupting others in the room. You could probably use the Roku remote as a music player around the house, too, if your place is small enough. It doesn't have the greatest range, however—I left the Roku 3 plugged into the television on the second floor of my house while it was streaming Spotify, but it began to break up when I took the remote downstairs.
The remote has Wii-like motion sensing features, though Roku's game offerings are slim pickings, and the only game that really made use of the motion sensing was Angry Birds Space. I would have also preferred to have rubber the buttons and OK button surrounded by the directional pad rather than right below it. The solid buttons feel very different from other remotes, and it was a bit of an adjustment trying to browse left and right with the new plastic directional buttons.
Roku has managed to become a hub for some of the most widely used streaming services—about 750 and counting. Like a television, Roku offers channels that are essentially apps that link to a streaming URL. Any channel you download or subscribe to is linked to your Roku account so that it's available when you move devices. Some of the major players include Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Amazon Instant Video, Amazon Cloud Player, Spotify, and Pandora. It also offers the live TV application from Time Warner Cable. Those interested in cooking can tune in to All Recipes and Recipe.TV, and those looking for educational content can watch TEDTalks and NASA TV. There's programming for children via the Disney app, and sports fans can watch MLB.TV and purchase a premium subscription to watch their favorite teams play. If you're especially curious or new to Roku, the company offers a complete listing of its available channels online.
The only major service that Roku doesn't offer is an official YouTube channel, apparently a years-old issue that does not yet have a resolution. There are a couple workarounds to this, however. Adding private channels like Twonky to beam YouTube content from your Android or iOS device to the Roku 3 seems to work fine.
The Roku 3 also allows users to stream their own content. With a flash drive or portable hard drive, users can play back digital media files including MP4, MKV, AAC, MP3, JPEG, and PNG files, though an application is required for this functionality to work. It does not support AVI, nor does it support DLNA playback, but users can set up a slight workaround by connecting to an existing Plex Media Server with the app available in the Roku channel store. You can also use the microSD card to sync Roku channels that are over 50MB, though it will have to be formatted before you can use it.
The app
The Roku app—available for iOS and Android—is probably my favorite thing about this set-top box. As an Android user, I feel like I don't always get first pick of the litter when it comes to app interfaces and features. Compared to the WDTV Android app for its streaming devices, the Roku app is a real winner. It's easy to use, immediately responsive, and the keyboard works properly within other applications. It displays all of your downloaded channels at a glance, allows you to launch a channel by speaking its name, downloads other apps, and pushes content from your smartphone to the Roku itself, though it only supports photos and music.
Should you get it?
If you happen to have a first-generation Roku in the house, you will definitely want to consider passing that off to another family member—or shoving it in another room—and securing one of these. If you've just recently adopted a Roku into your home, don't fret—you'll get the new user interface soon enough. However, the Roku 3 feels faster than its predecessors rather than feeling like an old dog with new tricks, as some of the older models sometimes did. While previous hardware updates felt incremental, the Roku 3 is a monumental leap forward for the company. It's still a shame that the Roku 3 has such limited options for locally stored files, though; users with a hoard of content ready to be watched may want to consider the WDTV Play for this reason alone, despite its slim app offerings. Apple users and those who are linked to the Apple ecosystem may be more inclined to stick with the Apple TV, but they should at least consider the Roku 3 as a TV companion for "other rooms."
Those looking to ditch cable and go full streaming should consider the Roku 3 as a great way to do just that. All of the available channels and options to pay for premium content ensure that you'll get that same television experience without having to pay for all those channels you don't want, and with the Roku 3's affordability, you can easily buy one for every television.
- A ridiculously large library of channels available for download (some are free and some require subscriptions)
- New interface is fast, intuitive
- Search feature allows users to peruse content on various services at once
- Can listen to content via headphones for quieter viewing or listening to music
- Playback is limited to very specific files
- Doesn't support DLNA, despite the fact that it hooks into a home network


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American Horror Story: Why Did Jessica Lange Sign on for Season 3?
When FX renewed American Horror Story for a third season, the network touted that Jessica Lange was set to return for Round 3 as well.
That makes the two-time Oscar winner, thus far, the only actor who will appear in all three seasons of Ryan Murphy's anthology series. But why did Lange decide to be the one constant in the repertory cast? Well, apparently, there's nothing Murphy could do that would make her not want to return.
Is speed the new suspense on TV?
"Ryan is very collaborative, so I don't think he would suddenly pull something out of his hat that I would suddenly say, 'I absolutely don't want to be involved with this story,'" Lange said during a call with reporters Friday. "Sometimes, episode to episode, I think, 'Oh my God, what the hell are we doing? We shouldn't be doing this!' And yet, the thing that always amazes me is nothing that we do in this show, really, is not somehow founded in some reality somewhere... Unless we really sink the ship, I can't imagine that there would be something that Ryan came up with that I would not want to be involved with."
Has your favorite show been canceled?
Lange, 63, says that she has no idea what Murphy has concocted for Season 3 and that the two haven't discussed it much. "I think I will try it again depending on what the story is, who the character is and all of that, so we'll see what happens."
Get Committed: A scary Santa haunts American Horror Story: Asylum!
Putting her trust in Murphy has paid off, with Lange scoring SAG, Golden Globe and Emmy awards for her Season 1 performance as Constance Langdon, the acid-tongued Southern belle neighbor of the Harmon family. But whether her Season 2 turn as Sister Jude, the nun once in charge of Briarcliff who finds herself as a patient next week, will garner the same accolades remains to be seen.
Still, after decades in the business, Lange says that she doesn't worry what the critics think and just wants to make sure she's doing things she's never done before. "Now I feel like I have nothing to lose, so I don't mind putting myself out there in the most raw, naked, exposed way," she said. "I also am able to do that because I really feel like Ryan would protect me somehow. I feel, at this point, I can take any chance I want. I can go as far as I want because judgment doesn't matter to me anymore."
Are you excited for a third round of Lange on American Horror Story? Hit the comments with your thoughts!
View original American Horror Story: Why Did Jessica Lange Sign on for Season 3? at TVGuide.com
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A small producer group used CAP funds to promote their quality wines produced from a local traditional grape variety.
A small producer group used CAP funds to promote their quality wines produced from a local traditional grape variety.
Communications campaign implemented by a producer group to increase the profile of a PDO certified cheese beyond its region of production.
An EIP operation group project to test and propagate new, cost-effective and environmentally friendly strawberry and apple varieties in Emilia-Romagna.
A cooperation project contributed to the development of a local value chain and created new diversified income opportunities in agriculture and agritourism.
Mobilising rural awareness in Finland about sustainable transport opportunities
A pig farm used Rural Development Programme (RDP) funding to improve the animals' living conditions and the branding of their products.
A Maltese young farmer took over his father's sheep farm in order to preserve local traditions, whilst incorporating new and innovative ideas in the production and marketing process.
Setting up an anti-hail system over a newly planted orchard of cherry trees, in order to mitigate the impact of climate change over agricultural production.
A dairy company used RDP support to build a new wing on its factory in order to increase its production capacity. This investment strengthened the local supply chains and helps prevent the abandonment of the farming activity in the area.
An agricultural business affected by extreme weather conditions used RDP support to repair the damage to its infrastructure and enable it to operate as normal.


text: Item# W12-00105 ref# 33633 Water, Heavy Transfer Paper, (39 in wide x 30 ft), Roll, Curbell Approved $106.00 / each Quantity: Sub-Total: $106.00 Volume pricing may be available for this item Call or Get a Quote. Add to Cart Item Details Brand Curbell Approved California residents see Prop 65 WARNINGS Warning Close Curbell Plastics, Inc. sells certain products that can expose you to chemicals listed on the Proposition 65 Chemical List that can be found at www.p65warnings.ca.gov/chemicals, which are known to the state of California to cause cancer and/or reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. If you need information regarding Proposition 65 for a specific product, please indicate so on your order form.


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The Australian government has now, after years of testing and preparing, formally abandoned a plan to filter its domestic Internet. Officials now say that it will use Interpol's "worst of" child abuse site list as a way to shield Ozzies from truly awful content.
"Blocking the Interpol 'worst of' list will help keep children safe from abuse, it meets community expectations, and fulfills the Government's commitment to preventing Australian internet users from accessing child abuse material online," Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said on Friday, according to the Herald Sun.
"Given this ... the Government has no need to proceed with mandatory filtering."
For its part, Interpol uses five criteria to decide whether a site merits a spot on the "worst of" list. Those criteria include depicting children that are "real" (not CG, drawn, or 'pseudo-images'), depicting children in sexually exploitative situations that appear to be younger than 13 years, and having a domain that has existed for more than three months.
The push for a filtering program had largely been promoted by Family First, a conservative party Down Under. In 2010, Google even chided Australia for its program, saying its program had gone too far.
According to The Age, the major newspaper in Melbourne, the government will use its powers under existing telecom legislation, and so will not need to create a filter law.
The paper added that many Australian ISPs have already been using the Interpol criteria "for more than a year," without creating slower Internet speeds, or false positives.


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It has been less than ten months since we reviewed Parallels Desktop 5, a competent but buggy release from Parallels. Shipping paid updates with stability issues seems to be the company's modus operandi, so I was a little skeptical when I saw that a new version was already being released, since the last one had so many issues that needed ironing out. The feature list of Parallels Desktop 6 isn't what I'd call ambitious—the main focus of version 6 has been on the 64-bit host and increased speed, mostly for 3D and gaming. Gaming was already Parallels' forte, but I was curious to see if the new version would finally make playing modern games with complex shaders, high resolutions, and high-quality audio a reality. If it doesn't come through, and suffers from stability issues, this could be a disastrous release for Parallels. Read on for the verdict.
Test Hardware
- Mac Pro dual quad-core Nehalem Xeon 2.66 GHz
- 120GB OCZ Vertex Turbo SSD system drive with separate HD RAID disk for virtual machine disks
- Radeon 4870/Geforce GTX 285 testing scenarios
- Dual NEC WUXi 2490 Spectraview monitors
- OS X 10.6.4 64-bit kernel with graphics update
- Windows 7 64-bit VM specs:
- 8 cores
- 256 MB VRAM and 3D acceleration and vsync enabled.
- MacBook Pro Core2 Duo 2.4GHz 15" Santa Rosa
- 120GB OCZ Vertex SSD
- NVIDIA Geforce 8600M 256MB
- OS X 10.6.4 32-bit kernel with graphics update
- Windows XP SP3 32-bit VM specs:
- 2 cores
- 256 MB VRAM and 3D acceleration and vsync enabled
System Requirements
- Intel Mac. 64-bit virtual machines require an Intel Core 2 Duo or higher
- Minimum 1GB of memory, 2GB of memory is recommended
- 500MB for Parallels Desktop application and support files
- Snow Leopard: Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later
- Leopard: Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 or later
Interface changes
Most of the interface changes in Parallels Desktop 6 are subtle tweaks, but they make the application feel more polished overall. The new VM Library window has a slight transparency-with-blur effect over the background:
Resuming and suspending VMs overlays a similar charcoal gray and glass feel:
When you attach a USB device, a slick little window pops up:
This consistent feel makes the whole Parallels experience a little slicker and more in keeping with Apple's interface design. This is also helped by changes to...
That icon
I don't think many applications have received as much hate over an icon change as Parallels has. How bad is it? Well, I noticed this when searching for installation info for Parallels:
When your icon is so contentious that it's trumping "install" and "increase memory" for support questions, I think it's safe to say people don't like it. I was no fan either—just look at this thing:
The updated icon attempts to right some of the wrongs, while keeping the "parallel lines" motif:
The lines still feel lazily dropped on top of a decent stock icon, but it's an improvement, and the overlaid lines look okay on top of applications:
I'd still rather have the old icon back, but those pixels are behind us now.


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Everybody likes to get new followers. We love to find and make new friends, it's why we are online, right? So are you ready to party?
Rules of the game:
1. Follow my blog. Because I like new followers too. *grins*
2. Leave a comment on this post telling a little about you and your blog, and what food you are bringing to the BBQ.
(P.S.If you're on Blogger, check your profile to make sure it includes the link to your blog)
3. Come back often to meet the party-goers-- there will be new ones stopping in throughout the four day weekend-- and then go visit at least three new blogs.
Leave a comment as you visit, introduce yourself and add yourself as a follower. But only if you like their blog, because this is about making friends not following just to get something in return. If you can't relate to the blog, move on to the next.
You will get out of this what you put into it. The more you visit and follow, the more people will return to visit you. Be sure to leave a comment on the blogs. Sometimes it feels weird to comment in a new one place, it's easier just to stalk, but this gives everyone the opportunity to jump right in and be friendly!
4. Invite others to the party! Share and link to this post on Twitter, Facebook, Google + or wherever. Because the more participants we have, the more successful it will be.
I'll check the comments all weekend, visit as many as I can, and follow if I'm not already.
The food I'm bringing is Sweet Turkey Sandwiches. I oven roasted a turkey, and after it cooled, I pulled the meat off the bones in shreds and covered it with Famous Dave's BBQ Sauce. It refrigerated overnight. I have it heating up in my crock pot, and will be serving it on home made rolls, with your choice of dill or sweet pickles. Enjoy!


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The former co-chair of the Simpson-Bowles commission tells Ali Velshi why no politicians are serious about trimming our debt.
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Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ at Balloon Juice wants to know about "the best disaster songs."
Okay. Reasonable request. But why the plural?
Author: Mark Kleiman
Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out. Books: Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken) When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The Economist Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993) Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989) UCLA Homepage Curriculum Vitae Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com View all posts by Mark Kleiman


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Pregnant moms using cocaine has less effect on infants than previously thought, says research
Pregnant mothers who used cocaine provoked a scare in the 1980s, but new research says there's little proof of major long-term effects on children.
Research in teens adds fresh evidence that the 1980s "crack baby" scare was overblown, finding little proof of any major long-term ill effects in children whose mothers used cocaine during pregnancy.
Some studies have linked pregnant women's cocaine use with children's behavior difficulties, attention problems, anxiety and worse school performance. But the effects were mostly small and may have resulted from other factors including family problems or violence, parents' continued drug use and poverty, the researchers said.
They reviewed 27 studies involving more than 5,000 11- to 17-year-olds whose mothers had used cocaine while pregnant. The studies all involved low-income, mostly black and urban families.
The review, led by University of Maryland pediatrics researcher Maureen Black, was released online Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
Widespread use of crack cocaine in the 1980s led to the "crack baby" scare, when babies born to cocaine users sometimes had worrisome symptoms including jitteriness and smaller heads. Studies at the time blamed prenatal drug use, suggested affected children had irreversible brain damage and predicted dire futures for them. These reports led to widespread media coverage featuring breathless headlines and heart-rending images of tiny sick newborns hooked up to hospital machines.
"The field of prenatal cocaine exposure has advanced significantly since the misleading 'crack baby' scare of the 1980s," the review authors said.
In recent years experts have mostly discounted any link, noting that so-called crack babies often were born prematurely, which could account for many of their early symptoms. Studies that tracked children beyond infancy have failed to find any severe outcomes.
In some studies included in the new review, crack-exposed teens had lower scores on developmental tests than other children but their scores were still within normal limits. Many studies found that the children's family environment or violence were directly related to the teen's performance regardless of whether their mothers had used cocaine during pregnancy, the researchers said.
The government's National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that it's tough to evaluate how drug use during pregnancy affects children's development because so many other factors play a role, including prenatal care, mothers' health and family environment.


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Tuesday, February 22, 2011
OMG, I've got to get out of here!
As a result, at the end of the day, I am sometimes FREAKING OUT that I've got to get out of the hospital before the daycare closes.
Our daycare has pretty long hours, so 90% of the time I arrive very comfortably before the deadline. 5% of the time, my daughter is one of the last kids there, but it's still no problem. Then another 5% of the time, I'm racing furiously through traffic to get to the daycare before closing time.
I've always made it there in time, sometimes with a safety margin of only a minute or two. I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world if I were late. Basically, I would be charged like $20 per minute after the deadline and I'd have to find my child sitting there all alone with a forlorn, abandoned expression on her face. That's still better than the hospital-based daycare a friend of mine was using, where they would call child protective services if you were more than five minutes late.
Most of the physicians I work with don't seem to have this issue. All their kids are older or they have a spouse or relative to help out. They say they were at the hospital till 8 o'clock the night before and just shrug like this is no big deal. In medicine, things come up. If you've got one foot out the door and a patient says he has 10 out of 10 chest pain, what are you supposed to do? There's no excuse not to stay. You can always put off dictations a little bit longer, but there's no excuse for not caring for a seriously ill patient.
It's yet another thing to consider when entering medicine. You do lose a degree of flexibility and control in your life, which can be rough when you have small kids.
51 comments:
Would it be feasible to hire a high school kid to do daycare pickup and get dinner started (if you're not using a crockpot)? Someone might love the shot at just 1-2 hours of work in the evening.ReplyDelete
Hmm, maybe high school students are different in your part of the country, but I wouldn't even remotely trust one of them to do something like that. Even the driving part alone would worry me. I used to hire a high school senior to babysit sometimes and she would cancel on me about 50% of the time.ReplyDelete
I actually think this is a marvelous idea. If not a high school student, how about a college junior/senior who is majoring in education? a local senior (someone in their early 60s)? or one of the daycare workers themselves?ReplyDelete
When I was a high school student I never cancelled... even when my family all went to San Fransisco without me on a whim one time. So, not every high school student does that.
I am seriously stealing this marvelous, marvelous idea.
Well, regardless of whether I would trust a high school or college kid, part of the reason I picked my job and the daycare was that it was really important to me to be the one to pick my daughter up every day. I got picked up by sitters a lot as a kid and I hated it. I would feel awful if my daughter spent all day at daycare then another hour or two with a sitter, especially when I chose my job so she wouldn't have to do that.ReplyDelete
Besides, on a practical level, as I said, it's only a problem 5% of the time. Why would I hire someone every day when they're only needed once or twice a month? Maybe other people have the money for this, but I don't.
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Fizzy -ReplyDelete
1) Every single dr I've talked to has this problem
2) I think WS and TR are onto something. Don't knock it til you've tried it.
Of course, what would you complain about then? I have faith that you'd think of something else. ;-)
This is a stressor for all parents that balance child pick-up with other tasks (work, a napping or sick younger child, volunteer activities, traffic jams to name a few). The real problem is dealing with unexpected events that occur alongside our normal routine.ReplyDelete
Part of the solution is realizing that this scenario is inevitable. The next part is creating a backup plan. Whether it's another parent in your program, the daycare itself, a friend/relative, or a College student, we need to invest time to find several people that can help us out in situations like these.
Childrearing takes a community but the modern difference is that we now have to create and nurture our own community. Keep in mind that reciprocity is also necessary when you are a member of the community.
OMDG: I can complain about Scott's "extra soft" toilet paper. I actually to return a pack this week because it sucked so bad and I wrote an angry letter to the Scott company. It's not like I'm some kind of toilet paper diva, but seriously!ReplyDelete
If all other female doctors you talk to have this problem, what do they do? The female docs I know with small kids all seem to have retired parents or in-laws nearby.
A friend of mine is a radiologist with 2 small children (5 and 2) and she hires college students if she or her husband can't manage to pick them up.ReplyDelete
Since you asked... :)ReplyDelete
I chose to live in the same town as my parents so that we have a backup plan x two reliable people. I specifically did not pick the residency that best matched me because having my parents nearby is extremely important. I know you this is not something that you can do - but maybe those who are going to make a future rank list for residency and fellowship should take this into account.
We also chose to live next door (literally) to our daycare center and live in 1000 sq feet so that a neighbor could pick our child up in an emergency. Also, not something you could do. But might be helpful for those reading your blog who are just about to match.
I think this is a wonderful topic. Reminds me to give a key to the reliable neighbor next door and the one above us. Known them for almost ten years.
This is a brand new problem for us as this is the first time because my husband - who is supposed to have an easy job with easy hours (something I agreed to when we decided to have a child)- suddenly is flying all over the country while I am on q5 wards working crazy hours.
Fizzy -- I cannot stand extra soft toilet paper. Don't even get me started on the subject.ReplyDelete
As for what other people do, since I am currently childless, the subject hasn't come up that much yet. Let me give you the few examples I know of:
1) Male senior resident had to pick up kids at daycare by 6PM. Was on consult service. Tried to finish seeing all patients by 5:40, but if he couldn't he would have to leave. This seemed to be understood by everyone (including the attending, shockingly enough). When he was on an inpatient month, his wife (a resident in the same dept) did pick-ups. The department coordinated their schedules so this was possible. There was surprisingly little resentment among co-residents.
2) Attending (male) basically just rushes home to pick up the kids and is out of the office by 5:30. His wife (also an attending) does it sometimes too.
3) My mentor does pick-ups when he's not on service in the MICU. I'll have to ask him what he does when he is on service since his wife is also a doc (derm) who works 40 minutes away.
4) I have a friend whose husband does drop offs and pick ups since she is a med student and can't.
5) An attending recruits college students in the area for baby-sitting/ pick up duty. He is an EM attending, and his wife is a peds. They have 3 kids. They live 5 blocks from campus.
I'll try to find out what some other people do for you, if you want more suggestions. I have a friend who is a single mom and is a pediatrician. Her daughter is 8(?) now, so obviously she doesn't have to deal with daycare. I really should find out from her what she does with after school time, since it's impossible to pick your kid up from school if you're working, and 8 is really too young to be home alone.
It really isn't that easy.ReplyDelete
Somehow everyone lives in the Land of Magical Babysitters where you can call one number and have Kristy, Claudia, or Mary Ann come pick up your kid at a moment's notice. But it's not so easy around here. There are no nearby colleges spilling over with kids who have nothing to do every day during the hours of 6 and 8. Countless times, I've been introduced to a mother who lives in my area and the first thing she asked was: Do you know of a good babysitter? (I don't.) Getting someone reliable who could pick up my kid every day would cost me a small fortune, even if that was what I wanted.
Making arrangements with another parent isn't so easy either. You have to find a parent whose work schedule is compatible with yours. And everything involves car transport, so how do you transport an extra small child if you don't have a carseat for them? Or room in your car?
OMDG: You may feel differently about the soft toilet paper when you're pregnant or have had kids :) /TMIReplyDelete
If my childhood is any indication, your single mom friend probably has an after school program that she uses.
Right now, my daycare is open till 6:30, which is about as good as it gets. I think I'll probably just end up racing there on those 5% of days, and if I don't make it, I'll pay the late fee. It's not ideal, but at least they don't call child protective services.
Fizzy -- Ever considered a bidet? My husband is very sad they don't have them in this country.ReplyDelete
I actually think rushing around at 5PM is the norm, sadly. Or people have babysitters and have dispensed with the daycare entirely. Of course, this is can be very expensive. I think most of them, since they're attendings now, can outsourse the emergency situations to people like residents most of the time.
Fizzy, I completely respect you wanting to be the one to pick up your kids - especially if your childhood memories are of babysitters.ReplyDelete
It might be possible to find a few reliable people who you could call in a pinch, though. Contact the AP teachers at your local high school to find someone who might be more reliable than those you've encountered in the past. Or see if there's a local homeschool group that could put you in touch with someone who could help out periodically (parent or teen). Or if your city has a senior center, they might know people who'd love to give you a hand once in a while.
It's not realistic to think people will sit by the phone just in case you call, but if you have a pool of folks who might be available, I'd bet it's doable for that once-a-month time you get stuck.
Having dealt with this problem for 6 years with 2 young children all I can tell you is that there is no easy solution.ReplyDelete
My career has taken a hit as I haven't been able to find reliable child care. My dream would be to "win" a daycare spot that had a penalty for late pick-up.
A year ago I finally embraced that I need others' help and vice versa. My solution changes every few months with my changing work hours, my children's needs, and the fact that child care that isn't daycare is often unreliable and short-term.
Here, here, k-kel. Finding someone to be responsible for your most precious possession is never easy.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 22, 2011 at 2:08 PM
I fully agree that it is hard to find a reliable back up - and I live in a small town :)ReplyDelete
I worked it out with my daycare that if it happens that I am late, she charges me a special fee - not the jacked up price it was in the contract for when i'm late. I've only had to use it once - like you, I'm there 95% of the time and barely make it the other 5 - but it is really nice knowing that the one time I'm in a pinch she can cover me. Of course, this is a small daycare, so that helps. Otherwise, i am rushing out the door and occasionally have had to bring the kids back to work with me - those times I stole a med aide that helped out - totally not ideal but had no choice!
There are no perfect solutions but I made friends with a few other moms in the center whom I could call in a pinch. They usually had the same schedule and my kids would go home with them and I would get them there. The kids were okay because it was a play date and I knew they were safe. It worked so well (and I reciprocated) that it became a regular thing. But knowing I had that option dramatically reduced my stress. We were part of a center associated with a community college so one of my friends would pay one of the students to take her child to her in the hospital. That extra time let her finish her work and shortened the commute because she did not have to shlep to the daycare. I would not use that every day but in a pinch that would be an option. Not to burst your bubble but daycare is easy. Later when they are in school you have the unexpected teacher work days and weather related school delays that really wreak havoc!ReplyDelete
Although I am only a 2nd year medical student now, I did have a career as a software engineer before med school. My kids were younger then, and there were many occasions when I would be racing against the clock to pick them up.ReplyDelete
The problem is not unique to medicine. Any demanding career outside the home will likely pose similar challenges. Although a piece of software not working right many not seem nearly as catastrophic as a patient with 10/10 chest pain, when there are hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake and clients expecting results, managers standing in your office tapping their feet waiting for you to fix some unexpected glitch, you can't exactly say "sorry, bye, I have to go pick up my kid from daycare", unless you want to be fired the next day.
Prices used to be cheaper then (only $10 for the first minute and $5 per minute for each extra minute past closing time), but we did have to shell out quite a bit of $$ a few times. Then we asked one of the wonderful single daycare teachers if she would consider helping us with child care. She had a flexible evening schedule and agreed, so on the rare days when I was running late I would call her and she would just take the kids to our home. We paid her very well and used her for occasional date nights and "adults only" outings on rare weekend evenings. It was fantastic for our kids and for our sanity.
And yes, it does not get that much easier when the kids are older and there are school closings, half-days, teacher work days, sick days, etc. Both of my kids had the stomach flu last week the night before I had a huge exam. My husband is back in our home state because there were no suitable jobs for him here and I didn't get into med school there (hopefully will be going back home for residency, fingers crossed). Somehow we seem to manage - with a network of friends and friendly neighbors, a positive attitude, a willingness to always return favors with a little "extra" and always give a little more than we get, we seem to be making it so far.
I always tell myself:
For every problem there are at least 2 viable solutions.
Teapot: I'm aware things are only going to get worse in regular school, which is why we're staying with daycare through kindergarten, even though it will cost extra. God knows what we'll do with all those vacations: christmas, president's week, easter, SUMMER. It's impossible. School is really geared toward the idea of one parent who doesn't work.ReplyDelete
WhiteCoatDreamer: I do understand there are other jobs where you could unexpectedly be asked to stay late. But I have to believe that more physicians have this problem than software engineers.
Dear Fizzy, I am not sure that you "have to believe that more physicians have this problem". Why do you have to?ReplyDelete
I have friends who are attorneys, who often work very crazy hours and cannot exactly leave a courtroom when the judge decides to continue hearing a case well past 5 PM (this does happen more often than you'd think). I have friends who are consultants and have to fly around the country, not always making it home at the time (or even on the day) planned. I have a friend who is a dentist and has worked out a deal with her secretary that if a case ends up running past closing time the secretary will go pick up her kids.
For many women who have gone straight through high school, college, medical school and have added motherhood somewhere along the road into that mix, it may seem that they have it the hardest, but the reality may be a bit different. Most women I know who have had more than a year or 2 between college and med school, have had a career and have had kids in that time, will tell you a different story.
WCD: The reason I "have to" believe this is that all the software engineers that I know personally seem to have fairly flexible hours. Some can even work from home! Some of them work hard or even long hours, but very seldem have unexpected emergencies. I can see it happening with a lawyer... I know they can have insane hours. (Also, I'm obligated to point out that a dentist IS a kind of doctor :)ReplyDelete
Regarding consultants who travel a lot, the big difference is that you know going into a job if you're going to have to travel a lot. Whereas people who go into med school right out of college, not thinking about the future of having children, and may be misled because the first two years of med school are so flexible. By the time women realize how incredibly unpredictable medicine is, it's kind of too late. That's why I make posts like this.
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Fizzy -- Please don't take this the wrong way, but White Coat Dreamer is right. It happens just as often in other professions. Doctors (unfortunately) do not have the monopoly on work emergencies. And also, demanding bosses who don't understand the plight of the working parent, and last minute deadlines lurk everywhere. Unfortunately.ReplyDelete
Gotta agree w/ White Coat Dreamer. My mom was lawyer and she struggled to make it to pick up time more than once. With clients' livelihoods, her own livelihood and her reputation riding on a case, she couldn't just check out early.ReplyDelete
Doctors do important work but there are other important and demanding jobs in our society and many, many working parents face the pick-up dilemma.
I just said I know lawyers work ridiculous hours. The lawyers I know work much harder than I ever did. At my last daycare, me and the lawyer-mom were always the two people racing to get there at the last second.ReplyDelete
I know there are many careers that are unpredictable. But I walk through the administrative part of the building as I'm going to get my jacket at the end of the day, and it's a ghosttown. I've never seen anyone there past 5. And there are usually only a handful of kids ever left in the daycare past 6, out of hundreds of kids enrolled. So I think there are also plenty of jobs with very predictable hours.
I think the big exception with medicine is what I've said over and over. I think some people enter the field without *realizing* the impact it will make on their entire lives. And by the time it's clear, you're too deep in training. If you start a consulting job and realize it's not for you, you can quit and do something else. It's not so easy when you've dedicated tons of money and time to training.
- mamadocFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:41 PM
We didn't have any family locally either. Now this is old experience,since my girls are grown and have their own childcare problems, BUT: the last hour or so at daycare is pretty much bedlam, since the number of kids decreases slower than the number of teachers. I worried more about the children getting picked on by the big ones in that last hour. Back then (and this may still be true now) a lot of the daycares worked people just under full time (so they wouldn't have to pay benefits, I guess). I hired one of the kid's teachers who got off at 4:00 to take them home and stay with them, start dinner, etc. She needed the extra income and didn't mind getting home a little later--of course I paid very well. When the kids got older we had a series of high school/college girls who picked them up from school and did the same thing. It worked out very well for us. The kids say they never felt deprived or upset, it was better knowing they would go home at x-time with Ms Leanne/whoever than wondering WHEN mom was going to come for them. Of course, when they got to elementary/late middle school age these folks were their "drivers" not their "sitters." Also since my husband traveled I sometimes paid these folks to sleep in our guest room when I was on call. Best wishes and hope this helps.ReplyDelete
Dear Fizzy,ReplyDelete
I would like to point out that your clarification somewhat negates your earlier position. Your earlier position was that "more physicians have this problem", which you have now agreed may not be the case, and your new position seems to be that more women physician do not realize that they will have this problem when they initially enter medicine. I wholeheartedly agree with your latter position.
I am glad you clarified, and I do agree with you that it is important for women to go into medicine (just as into anything else in life) with eyes wide open and armed with as much information as possible. I do appreciate this post and the debate that it has engendered.
P.S. You had specifically said "more physicians" (not "more doctors") which is why I gave the example of a dentist.
White Coat Dreamer: I still maintain both things are true, and don't necessarily negate each other. I think compared with MOST other fields, doctors have much more irregular and unpredictable schedules. That's not to say that certain other professionals may not have a worse schedule, including lawyers (and apparently some software engineers :), but I think doctors are way up there. And it's exacerbated by the fact that women may not realize it's going to be like that till it's too late.ReplyDelete
But yeah, anyone can have a crap boss who makes them stay late at their own whim.
- AnonymousFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Fizzy, I think you've got to be in the wrong specialty or are just too conscientious :)ReplyDelete
I've run into my kids specialists picking their kids up from school
I'm not a doctor, just a CT tech, but I'm expected to stay late if needed. They don't really like it when I turn exams away because "I gotta go, My daughter has gymnastics in 30 minutes"...so I stay....ReplyDelete
At least once a week I see someone's kids at work, almost always one of the physician's kids, but occasionally it's one of my co-workers kids...It seems kind of common for 1 particular doctor to leave, pick her kids up, then come back to finish up paperwork while the kids hangout in the conference room. But her kids are 6,9, and 11...I still think they wouldn't think it was neat if I did that with my 2 kids though....
My options for emergency care are my parents, and our long time , now college age, baby sitter. I need to make more friends as it's supposed to snow tomorrow or Thursday and I have no one who can watch the kids if school is closed...
I am commenting from phone in Hawaii (hotel internet charge at this conference is outrageous) so I'll be brief. I hired a nursing school sitter to pick up kids for first time this year. Now that kids have after school activities that require a driver, it became mandatory. It has made a wonderful world of difference. I still do mornings, which is nice. I encourage you to consider, at some point, at least on a trial basis. To be able to drive straight home and have kids settled, bathed, and sometimes dinner started made my life so much easier.ReplyDelete
- sunnimomFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:30 AM
Fizzy-it is a tone issue again that people are reacting to. At my old daycare, it was not only the docs coming in late by a far stretch. Sometimes people are stretched by the two career lifestyle. The key is trying to work out the backup. Yes, it costs money and yes it may mean you are not the one doing pick up. But remember your post about yelling? Stressful situations like rushing to daycare can bring that on. For me, being calm and happy with my kids is worth the price. Also, some of the solutions above cost no money, just willingness to ask friends for help and doing the same for them. Yes, medicine is hard as you state in your posts but you are writing to people who are problem solvers. Most find the way that is best for them and their kids.You can too. Beyond daycare takes some planning: my kids go to minicamps on breaks or that is when we vacation or they go on a visit to Grandma or she comes for some in depth spoiling. We manage and they seem well adjusted...:-)ReplyDelete
Sunnimom: I don't begrudge anyone trying to find solutions for me. Everyone has been completely civil. But I will probably keep doing the easiest solution right now, which is to rush like hell on those 5% of days.ReplyDelete
Giz: I actually would trade mornings faster than evenings. Mornings are impossible and I hate them. But my favorite part of the day is picking her up at daycare (provided I'm not rushing), so I don't think I'd want to give that up, forgetting any financial reasons.
Mary: I'm hoping by the time my daughter is 6, she'll be mature enough that I can rush out of work on some days and grab her, then let her do homework or whatever while I finish up for the day. I still remember my mother used to bring me to work fairly frequently.
>>it's exacerbated by the fact that women may not realize it's going to be like that till it's too late>>ReplyDelete
Surely, you can't be serious. Physician-mothers are MORE likely than women in other demanding careers to be surprised by their long, irregular hours? Please!
Honestly, I think attorney-, MBA- and yes, engineer-mothers are more likely to be surprised by long hours. Physicians? Comes with the territory.
- AnonymousFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Fizzy - thank you for your important topics as always. What you have described has been my life off and on. My neighbour physician told me she changed 5 babysitters in 4 years and used school after care in between. Those 2 hour a day low pay people are never a long term reliable solution. We all are in this boat suferring immensily to judge if we give ALL to our kids, while home staying living next to nothing moms seem to shower their kids with affection, home made foods, school volonteering and "creative" time spending. My heart goes out to you. Please, ignore all condesending angry comments above. Clearly shows that we as physicians must be more respectful to each other, and more supportive as mothers toward other mothers. Really puts me off when people try to lecture you like you are a 5 year old (all these catty comments - REALLY? PLEASE!). Tell daycare center about your situation and reserve right to call them when you have emergency and ask them to work out civil solution for you - without rebuking or fining you. I did it in my kids daycre 3 years ago and they pushed pick up time 30 min later just for me for my emergencises and even told me they would not charge me and pick up the cost (will pay their employee for my extra 30 min). My best to youReplyDelete
This post rang so true to me - the flashback to 4 weeks ago gave me palpations just now ;)ReplyDelete
I was up on the 16th floor admitting a chronic pain palliative patient in the late afternoon and by the time staff had come into review, the clock was past 5. I remember watching the clock tick on in slow motion as the long, slow discussion moved on like molasses. Daycare was only 16 floors and two blocks away, so I thought I would be able to do the mad rush over but as it got closer to 6, it seemed inevitable.
I left the staff talking to the patient twice to call my inlaws to help to no answer. Finally at 5:45 I passed her a note -- that I had to run to daycare but would be back to do the orders. As I went down the elevator I sent out a mad text to hubby who was at a different hospital working late and another resident friend at the daycare for help. Luckily hubby was off early and drove straight to daycare and my friend was willing to go back to daycare and re-pick up my little one (love her!) if need be.
It was awful being torn by wanting to be a professional, appropriate doc for the team and patient but having family needs so much more urgent at that point in time.
I hate those mad rushes so much - but it's really that feeling of helplessness, panic, and being pulled in too many directions that is maddening.
Phew. Feels good to get that off my chest.
So, yes... for us it is having a wide net I can throw out in an emergency. The inlaws are key as they do about 40% of drop offs or pick ups for us, and the other 5 amazing mom and dad friends I have are wonderful supports for daycare and in life!
Our residency union has talked very loosely about a daycare for residents in the city - I think it;s an awesome idea and would help alleviate issues like this! Probably 10 years in the future, but wouldn't that be awesome!!?!
- AnonymousFebruary 24, 2011 at 5:31 AM
My sister in law the lawyer had the same issues with the daycare rush. I remember being on the phone with her as we were in two different traffic jams at 545 trying to make a 6 pickup. For her, it may affect her ability to make partner. I never felt it affected my future to be making that rush.My current residents with work hour restrictions have some advantages in that they have firm checkout/signout times so they tell me they make it to daycare on time.ReplyDelete
Thanks for writing about this. I feel like a lot of mothers in medicine tell me, "You can do it!" or "It was challenging," when I ask about logistics of childcare. I appreciate hearing the honest struggles, because I know that they have to exist.ReplyDelete
Also, I can't believe that the hospital-based daycare would call CPS! I don't think being late because you were SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE quite meets the criteria for neglect. You'd think that a hospital-based service, of anybody, would understand this.
Red: Yeah, I was shocked about that daycare. I kept saying, "No way!" I couldn't believe a hospital-based daycare could be so inflexible. But apparently, that was the threat.ReplyDelete
It would be so awesome if every residency program had a good daycare available with discounted prices for poor residents and flexible hours.
- AnonymousFebruary 25, 2011 at 5:33 AM
Our program does have a discounted program with great hours but have some pity for the people who work there. They have a tough job too and do not get paid well. Many of them are restricted to 35 hours a week so no benefits. If the hours were "flexible" they would not be affordable.ReplyDelete
Hey Fizzy,ReplyDelete
I really struggle to understand the patronising replies to your posts too.
I remember the day I realised I was not going to be a reliable daycare pick up person. It was horrifying to me.
I was a junior doctor in a peripheral Emergency Department with 3 resus bays. 30 minute drive from my baby girl (baby boy incubating, 10 weeks away from being born). A car accident came in, then another. All 3 resus bays were full. 30 beds in the department- full. I looked around and realised I was the only doctor left on the floor. No way of popping by resus and saying "Good luck with that resus, my kids need picking up".
The next day a ruptured ectopic preesnted at knock off time.
The next day we had a 36 week pregnant woman with troponin positive chest pain- you guessed it- at home time.
I wasn't involved with any of these patients directly. But I was part of the team, and other sick patients needed doctors. My colleagues needed support.
I had a long chat to my husband and for now, he needs to be the pick up person. In the future, where there will hopefully be more babies, and his studies will be finished and career on track,
we will probably try and find a babysitter/pick up person/cleaner to "do" afternoons, I think a load of washing, a bit of cleaning, school pick ups and dinner prepartion would be a great way of making sure they get enough pay and our household runs smoothly. Hopefully we'll be home shortly after our kids, but if there's an emergency, they'll be at home, doing their homework and getting ready for bed.
Haven't found this magical person yet, no need. But I hope we can when the time comes.
Hope you find solutions on those 5% days.
- AnonymousFebruary 26, 2011 at 3:31 PM
This post rings true for my family as well. My husband is an engineer (works 10 hr days, or used to before I returned to work) and we have no family nearby. I work 8-5 and have the occasional extended procedure to stay for.ReplyDelete
Most times it works fine for pickup/dropoff, but it's those unexpected times that make it hard. When my 4yr old gets the stomach bug for 3 days and then my daughter comes down with it 2 days later, my husband and I argue who can take off the time more easily. When I have to stay late, I worry about my daughter who still at 9 months refuses the bottle,
will she be starving if I dont get home until 7?
Like everyone else, finding reliable backup when you have no family in town, is difficult for a temporary situation or one you only need on rare occasions. And when you have sick kids, what do you do? I mean what sick kid wants to be
away from home when they feel awful?
We have also suffered consequences to my going back to work. My husband has already been talked to about sick days (he missed 3 this year due to the kids), and instead of 10 hr days, he now works 8-9 and has heard lots of comments about "just strolling in?" when he comes in at 8:45. In my position, I am the only one in my department with small kids. Most of the people either have older (out of the house) kids or never had any kids. I am the only one who takes a sick day (for my kids); when someone takes a day off it is filled with questions and explanations of why you need the time off.
I have currently applied for a parttime position that is a bit of a step down career wise, but it is basically the same job, same pay but less hours and I will be leaving at noon. We are hoping that with me having more time in the afternoon, it will be great for everyone. I know this type of job doesn't come up often in medicine so I'm really hoping I get it. I hope all of you struggling with the same issues can find a solution too.
It's a very hard situation and unfortunately, there's no easy answer. That's why I may have gotten a bit snippy at the first few posters who suggested I just entrust some kid to pick up my daughter every day.ReplyDelete
One thing I'm grateful for is that my husband's job is very, very nice about sick days.
- AnonymousFebruary 26, 2011 at 5:04 PM
Bekkles- I did not read patronizing; I read solutions from people who have been there. If Fizzy does not find them palatable, she doesn't have to use them. ShrugReplyDelete
I have the same feeling daily when I get out of my last class and drive an hour across town to the kid's school. I have exactly enough time if class ends on time and there is no traffic/accidents....but I'm always worried I won't make it in time.ReplyDelete
I can absolutely, positively relate to the tortured mad-dash out to my car, across town to two different child-care places to meet the 5:30pm and 6:00 pm deadlines. Both of my kids generally expected to be one of the last, if not THE last, kid picked up. I usually made it in time...but just barely. That setup also meant that the first 30-45 minutes I spent with my kids at the end of the day was a constant urgent nag: "come on, let's go, get your backpack, hurry up, we're late to get your brother, no don't tie your shoe now, do it in the car..." Ugh. I shudder remembering it.ReplyDelete
This school year, we hired a babysitter. Actually, a manny. He does cost more than the local rec department after school, but he drives the kids to their activities, helps my daughter with her not-inconsiderable homework, and saves my sanity. Just like Gizabeth said - now I walk cheerfully into a relaxed and usually happy house, often with dinner on the stove (this guy, I tell you, is a GEM).
Do you live anywhere there is an online service to help you find caregivers? You still interview them and everything, but they usually have some basic requirements (over 18, have passed a background check, have taken CPR, etc) and you pay a small fee (mine was $35 for a month of access) and you read through profiles or post a job. sittercity.com and care.com can be good options if they exist in your area.
- AnonymousMarch 5, 2011 at 7:50 PM
You wrote about my day. I'm in exactly the same position. Only, I think it's garbage. People should be able to have families too.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 5, 2011 at 8:14 PM
What scares me half to death is that I commute 45 minutes on I95. I would be a nervous wreck having my child driven by non-family. Solutions to this one, because it's getting desperate?!?!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 6, 2011 at 9:12 PM
We transferred from the day care near my work to one closer to our home and hired one of the teachers at the school to drive our kids home and stay with them until we got home. I still had a deadline but at least my kids were home and safe. Sometimes she took pity and started dinner.ReplyDelete


text:
A couple of years ago I heard about Ruth Eliel, who was, at the time, running the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. (She's now executive director of the Colburn Foundation, the largest institutional funder of classical music in L.A.) My ears perked up. I immediately thought of LACMA's modern and contemporary art curator Carol Eliel. I figured that these two very significant art leaders couldn't possibly be related. What are the odds? Pretty good, I guess. Ruth and Carol are sisters. I recently spoke with them about the changing cultural landscape in L.A., a past collaboration, and the kind of parents who raise such powerful and interesting women.
You've both been a part of L.A.'s cultural community for some time. How have things changed in town since you got started?
Carol: I came to L.A. in the fall of 1984 and it wasn't exactly a small pond then, but it's a huge pond now. The best of what was happening then continues today—there's just more of it. More shows, more museums, more artists. Yet there's still not a major arts publication based in Los Angeles.
Ruth: I came here in 1987. One of the biggest changes I've seen is that L.A. no longer has a professional dance company. Also, the number of art critics has really diminished. The Los Angeles Times doesn't have a full-time dance critic any more and is down to one full-time music critic. The L.A. Weekly no longer has a classical music critic.
So while the arts scene here has flourished by all accounts, coverage of the arts hasn't necessarily followed.
Carol: Right. When I came here in 1984, there were two papers in Los Angeles and thus two visual arts critics at dailies—Christopher Knight, formerly at the Herald-Examiner, now at the L.A. Times, and William Wilson, who was with the Times.
There's no doubt that much has changed in the newspaper world since you both came to the city. What about running an arts institution—do you think the inner workings are the same for, say, the Chamber Orchestra vs. LACMA?
Ruth: Well, music groups have one director and we all support his or her mission. An encyclopedic museum on the other hand has many curators with different visions.
Carol: Still, a performing arts organization is very much affected by that one leader, by a music director's interests, for instance. Look at the Green Umbrella series, the contemporary music series at the L.A. Phil, which has really been championed and popularized by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
You two seem to be on the same page. Have you collaborated in the past? Do you see any opportunity for collaboration in the future?
Ruth: We collaborated in 2002–2003 on a pair of conversations and performances for the now-defunct LACMA Institute for Art and Cultures, which included LACMA and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. The intent of the project was to help people understand modern music (Schoenberg, for example) to the same degree they appreciate modern art (Kandinsky and others).
So you've worked together; do you play together as well?
Carol: We do. In addition to music and art, we both enjoy reading, hiking, theater, cooking, and eating. Also in common—both of our husbands are real estate lawyers. In fact, they used to work together, so Ruth met her husband through my husband (well… and through me, too!).
Your parents seem to have done something right. What kind of childhood environment creates such impressive arts professionals?
Carol: Our parents are part of the stereotypical cultured European elite. Both are German-born with broad European educations in history, literature, and music. Our father is a scientist who, along with my mother, dragged us to museums as kids whether we wanted to go or not. And we often didn't want to go!
Ruth: Our mom is from a very musical family—our great uncle was the concertmaster for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and his brother (our grandfather) was nearly a professional pianist. Our mother had a beautiful voice and would've taken singing lessons had she not been forced to flee Nazi Germany. Later in life she became an announcer at the classical music radio station in the town where our parents live.
Thanks to both of you for your time. We're certainly lucky to have you in Los Angeles. Just don't make us wait too long for another collaboration.